After going 6-0 last week and extending its winning streak to 11 games the Missouri Western softball team moved up to 9th in the latest NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll which was released Wednesday morning. The Griffons are 25-4 overall and 8-0 in MIAA play.
The Griffons are coming off a week where they went 6-0 defeating Wayne State (Neb.) College twice along with defeating Northwest Missouri State and Truman State twice. The week the Griffons take on a tough opponent in MIAA foe Emporia State in a doubleheader on Saturday, March 24 in Emporia, Kan. Game times are set for 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm from Trussler Sports Complex. The Hornets are 16-6 overall and 8-0 in MIAA play. Western has struggled against ESU trailing the overall series 48-25 and 25-9 since 2002. Western is 4-7 at home, 2-8 on the road and 3-10 on a neutral field against Emporia since 2002.
The Griffons have been good on the road this season posting an 8-1 overall record. The Griffons are 4-0 in MIAA play on the road taking doubleheaders from Southwest Baptist and the University of Central Missouri. On the road this season the Griffons are batting .331 as a team with four players hitting over .300. Maegan Roemmich leads the way with 16 hits in 32 at bats and eight runs scored. Blair Stalder is batting .385 while Kat Steponovich and Sarah Elliott are hitting .364 and .304 respectively. On the mound Western has a 1.95 ERA with Jakie Bishop posting a 5-0 record and a 1.41 ERA on the road. Emily Moe has a 0.00 ERA in three innings pitched while Annalee Rubio is 3-1 with a 2.88 ERA.
Overall the Griffons are batting .312 as a team with Roemmich and Breanna Fleschner hitting .404. Tayor Anding is hitting .345 while Keri Lorbert, Steponovich, Leah Steele and Stalder are hitting .312, .310, .306 and .302 respectively. The Griffons have outscored its opponents 154 to 56 and out hit them 249 to 153. The Griffons have stolen 30 of 36 bases and hold a .970 fielding percentage.
The Lady Hornets are batting .305 as a team with Stephanie Goodwin leading the way with a .473 batting average. She has 26 hits and 19 runs scored. Tricia Vogel is batting .389 with 28 hits and seven doubles while Andrea Piezuch is hitting .370 with 17 hits. On the mound Jennifer Heery holds a 2.02 ERA in eight appearances. She is 6-2 on the year. Karley Schmelzer is 7-2 with a 2.31 ERA and 68 strikeouts. They are also 30-for-36 in stolen bases and hold a solid fielding percentage at .965.
— MWSU Sports Information —